Burn barrel cover

ABSTRACT

A method for preventing field fires and a burn barrel cover. In one form, the burn barrel cover is composed of a plurality of hoops and a plurality of cross members that form a net-like surface. The burn barrel cover prevents burning debris from escaping the burn barrel during incineration.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to simple incineration devices, and moreparticularly, but not exclusively, to a cover for a burn barrel.

BACKGROUND

Garbage, especially organic garbage such as leaves, branches, and othersimilar types of debris pile up over time. Hauling away this garbage isan expensive proposition and difficult. Many people, especially peoplewho live in rural areas, utilize burn barrels to dispose of garbage. Bumbarrels are barrel shaped objects to hold garbage for incineration.

Certain types of garbage release noxious fumes during incineration.Release of these noxious fumes indoors is hazardous to health. Bumbarrels release noxious fumes outdoors providing a method to safely burngarbage that releases noxious fumes. Burn barrels also prevent thespread of fire through containment.

A burn barrel effectively contains fire within its interior, but thefire can still spread. Commonly, as the garbage burns, burning debrisflies out of burn barrels because of differences in air temperature.Often, the debris continues burning after landing on the ground. If theconditions of the surrounding area are sufficiently dry, field fires orbrush fires start. Such fires create a potentially dangerous situation.

Thus, needs exist in this area of technology.

SUMMARY

In one form, a burn barrel cover is described. The burn barrel coverincludes a first hoop defining a circular opening; a second hoop coupledto the first hoop; a third hoop; a plurality of cross members coupled tothe first hoop, wherein the plurality of cross members form a net-likesurface across the circular opening defined by the first hoop, and aplurality of connection members each having a first end and a secondend, wherein the first end of each of the connection members is coupledto the second hoop and the second end of each of the connection membersis coupled to a third hoop, the connection members defining a sidesurface of the burn barrel cover.

A method for preventing field fires is described. The method includesproviding a burn barrel, wherein the burn barrel is constructed andarranged to hold garbage for incineration inside the barrel and coveringthe burn barrel with a cover having a top surface wherein the topsurface defines a net-like surface.

In another form, a burn barrel cover is described. A burn barrel coverfor covering an opening of a burn barrel comprising a net-like topsurface including cross members constructed and arranged to prevent therelease of burning debris from the burn barrel; and a side surfacerunning around the perimeter of the top surface constructed and arrangedto surround the opening of the burn barrel.

In yet another form, a burn barrel cover for covering the opening of aburn barrel is described. The burn barrel cover includes a first hoopdefining a circular opening constructed and arranged to cover theopening of the burn barrel and a plurality of cross members coupled tosaid first hoop, wherein said plurality of cross members form a net-likesurface across the circular opening defined by said first hoop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of a burn barrel cover according toone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevational view of the burn barrel cover ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment ofa burn barrel cover.

FIG. 4 illustrates placing the burn barrel cover of FIG. 1 onto a burnbarrel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended. Any such alterations, modifications, andfurther applications of the principles of the present invention asillustrated are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled inthe art to which the invention relates.

The present application is directed to a cover for a burn barrel. Burnbarrels hold and incinerate garbage. Many times, as the garbageincinerates, the garbage flies out of the top of the barrel, landssomewhere and starts a fire. A burn barrel cover having a net-like topsurface prevents the burning debris from escaping the barrel.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of one form of a burn barrel cover20. The burn barrel cover 20 includes a top surface 21, a first hoop 22defining the outer perimeter of the burn barrel cover 20, and crossmembers 24 running perpendicularly transverse to each other along thetop surface 21. The cross members 24 retain the burning debris andsimultaneously allow heat and smoke to escape the barrel. FIG. 1illustrates cross members 24 and a first hoop 22 formed of metal andshaped as rods. Other embodiments contemplate cross members 24 and afirst hoop 22 formed of alternate fire resistant materials. Moreover,other embodiments contemplate a variety of cross sectional shapes. Oneexample, among others, has cross members 24 and a first hoop 22 with asquare shaped cross section. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment havingcross members 24 arranged so the spaces 26 have equal dimensions acrossthe top surface 21. Other embodiments contemplate having spaces 26 withvarying dimensions.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment where each of the cross members 24includes a first end 27 and a second end 28. The cross members 24 jointhe first hoop 22 along the ends 27, 28 of the cross members around theperimeter of the first hoop 22. Therefore, the cross members 24 form anet-like surface across the opening defined by the first hoop 22. Thejoining of the cross members 24 and the first hoop 22 occurs along theperimeter of the first hoop 22. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment usingwelds to couple the various components of the burn barrel cover 20. Inalternate embodiments, the coupling occurs by brazing, interference fit,or other methods readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevational view of the burn barrel cover 20.Burn barrel cover 20 further includes a side surface 30. The second hoop32, the third hoop 34 and the connection members 36 define the sidesurface 30. The side surface 30 projects outwardly from the first hoop22 and second hoop 32 towards the third hoop 34. The first hoop 22 iscoupled to the second hoop 32. A third hoop 34 lies in a plane parallelto the plane formed by the first hoop 22 and the second hoop 32. Theconnection members 36 couple the second hoop 32 to the third hoop 34 tocompletely define the side surface 30. Each connection member 36includes a first end 38 and a second end 40. The first end 38 attachesto the second hoop 32 and the second end 40 attaches to the third hoop34. Combining the second hoop 32 and the third hoop 34 using theconnection members 36 creates a cylindrical cage like appearance.

FIG. 2 illustrates one form of the side surface 30. One alternateembodiment contemplates a flat sheet of material. Yet another embodimentcontemplates a small flange that wraps around the perimeter of the firsthoop 22. A further embodiment contemplates a burn barrel cover 20lacking a side surface 30. Other embodiments contemplate other forms ofside surface 30 readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 3 illustrates one of these alternative embodiments. The burn barrelcover 20 includes a first hoop 22, a second hoop 32 and a flange 42. Theflange 42 substitutes as a side surface 30 in this alternativeembodiment. The flange 42 is solid and extends outwardly from the secondhoop. The height of the flange 42 is less than the side surface 30 ofthe FIG. 1 burn barrel cover 20. The flange 42 of the burn barrel cover20 allows easy placement and removal of the burn barrel cover 20.

FIG. 4 illustrates placing the burn barrel cover 20 of FIG. 1 over aburn barrel 44. FIG. 4 illustrates that the top surface 21 of the burnbarrel cover 20 is slightly larger than the opening 46 of the burnbarrel 44. Therefore, the side surface 30 of the burn barrel cover 20will completely surround the opening 46 of the burn barrel 44. Anydebris that may attempt to float out of the burn barrel 44 will becaught by the net-like top surface 21 of the burn barrel cover 2, whilestill allowing heat and smoke to escape.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that allchanges and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventionare desired to be protected.

1. A burn barrel cover comprising: a first hoop defining a circularopening; a second hoop coupled to the first hoop; a third hoop; aplurality of cross members coupled to said first hoop, wherein saidplurality of cross members form a net-like surface across the circularopening defined by said first hoop; and a plurality of connectionmembers each having a first end and a second end, wherein said first endof each of said connection members is coupled to said second hoop andsaid second end of each of said connection members is coupled to saidthird hoop, said connection members defining a side surface of said burnbarrel cover.
 2. The burn barrel cover of claim 1, wherein said couplingof said first hoop to said second hoop is performed by welding.
 3. Theburn barrel cover of claim 1, wherein said hoops, connection members,and cross members are composed of metal.
 4. The burn barrel cover ofclaim 1, wherein said coupling of said cross members and said connectionmembers to said hoops is performed by welding.
 5. The burn barrel coverof claim 1, wherein said cross members are constructed and arranged toform a net-like surface having uniform opening dimensions.
 6. The burnbarrel cover of claim 1, wherein said cross members, connection members,and hoops have rounded cross sections.
 7. A method for preventing fieldfires comprising: providing a burn barrel, wherein said burn barrel isconstructed and arranged to hold garbage for incineration inside saidbarrel; and covering said burn barrel with a cover having a top surface,wherein said top surface defines a net-like surface.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein said net-like surface defines spaces havingsubstantially identical dimensions.
 9. The method of claim 7, whereinsaid cover includes a side surface surrounding the opening of the burnbarrel.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said side surface is aflange.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein said side surface is composedof members that are disposed substantially perpendicular to the topsurface.
 12. A burn barrel cover for covering an opening of a burnbarrel comprising: a net-like top surface including cross membersconstructed and arranged to prevent the release of burning debris fromthe burn barrel; and a side surface running around the perimeter of saidtop surface constructed and arranged to surround the opening of the burnbarrel.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the side surface is formedfrom a plurality of connection members.
 14. The device of claim 12,wherein the side surface is a flange that wraps around the perimeter ofthe top surface.
 15. The device of claim 12, wherein the top surface andside surface are composed of fire-resistant materials.
 16. The device ofclaim 12, wherein the cross members are composed of metal.
 17. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein the cross members define spaces that aresubstantially equal in dimension.
 18. The device of claim 12, whereinthe cross members have a cross-section that is rounded.
 19. The deviceof claim 12, wherein the top surface defines a circular shape.
 20. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein the cross members are constructed andarranged substantially perpendicular to one another.
 21. A burn barrelcover for covering the opening of a burn barrel comprising: a first hoopdefining a circular opening constructed and arranged to cover theopening of the burn barrel; and a plurality of cross members coupled tosaid first hoop, wherein said plurality of cross members form a net-likesurface across the circular opening defined by said first hoop.
 22. Theburn barrel cover of claim 21 further including: a second hoop coupledto the first hoop; a third hoop; and a plurality of connection memberseach having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of eachof said connection members is coupled to said second hoop and saidsecond end of each of said connection members is coupled to said thirdhoop, wherein the connection members define a side surface of the burnbarrel cover.
 23. The burn barrel cover of claim 22, wherein saidcoupling of said first hoop to said second hoop is performed by welding.24. The burn barrel cover of claim 22, wherein said hoops, connectionmembers, and cross members are composed of metal.
 25. The burn barrelcover of claim 22, wherein said coupling of said cross members and saidconnection members to said hoops is performed by welding.
 26. The burnbarrel cover of claim 22, wherein said cross members are constructed andarranged to form a net-like surface having uniform opening dimensions.27. The burn barrel cover of claim 22, wherein said cross members,connection members, and hoops have rounded cross sections.